Certain special materials associated with the devices which could not bereadied for the CURTISS departure were airlifted while, in the meantime, the other materials were transported by MSTS surface means beginning as early as 12 November 1953 when the USNS PVT JOSEPH E. MANN (TAK-253) departed Oakland with twenty-seven steel containers of . | As has been implied, activities during the fall and the immediate pre-operational period looked to the finalizing of earlier plan~ ning as well as the preparation for movement to the forward area in anticipation of the beginning of the operational phase. Three activities, the aircraft positioning meeting on 19 October; Exercise TIGERCAT at San Diego on 27 and 28 October; and the Task Unit Com-, manders! meeting on 19 November were the significant fall events. . The aircraft positioning mesting and Exercise TIGERCAT are discussed elsewhere. The Task Unit Commanders! meeting, however, was fore- most the concern of Task Group 7.1. It was concluded at this meet- ing that, constructicn-wise, camps were ahead of schedule; large structures were on schedule; and some minor structures were behind schedule. With this information, all task group commanders agreed, in turn, that the capability of meeting the CASTLE schedule was well established. | Other conferences on the subjects of meteorology, sampling, experimental projects, shipping, radiological safety, and communications were held. With the completion of each of the conferences, plans became more firm and by 8 December 1953, Task Group 7. published its Operation Plan No. 1-53. 61 This plan established the